St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-20
THE GLoBE's SCHEME.
What Henry George Thinks of the
Baby Benefit.

Henry Georges Standard.
The st. Paul, Mimi, GLOBE has
started a novel scheme, which shows
that the thin end of the land idea wedge
has entered the editors brain. The
scheme is thus described by the paper:
''With the object of giving some one of
the great mass of struggling humanity
a start in life, the GLOBE has deter
mined to originate and carry out Il plan,
which it is pleased to designate The
Babies Benefit The general public,it
is hoped, will give it a cordial support
when they come to realize its merit.
The GLOBE has purchased a.lOt in the
center of the present limits of st. Paul
in one of the most eligible spots in the
city, and property there is bound to be-
come very valuable in after years. There
is nothing rash or improbable in the as
sertion that the lot will easily bring
$4,000 before baby at the present time
wealthy people of st. Paul to-day gained
riches in this way-holding on to prop
erty owned by their parents when they
were babies or children. 1t is proposed
to give this lot free of any incumbrance,
to some baby who is fortunate enough
to h0lp the lucky number. The deed
will be made to the parents, who will be
required to hold the lot in trust for the
child until it becomes of age. Then the
rightful owner can do with it as he or
she pleases. BY that time it will be
valuable start i'll life for its possessor.
There is no charge for tickets. They are
free for all-who have babies born be-
tween Jan. l, 1887, and Aug. l, 1887.
The parents have simply to comply with
the requirements laid down, and their
baby has as good chance as any
body's.'
The only criticism on this scheme is
that the benefit is to be confined to one
baby, while all the babies born in st.
Paul and all who swell the city'S popu-
lation by immigration will contribute to
the creation of the S10,006value that the
lot is expected to acquire during the
growth of this fortunate baby to man
hood or WOmanhOod. However. this is
an advantage that the prize baby will
Share-as the GLOBE points Out-With
numerous other babies who have the
good luck to be born of parents who
happen to hold other vacant lots to
which the whole community of st. Paul
is expected to give value during the next
twenty-one years, while meanwhile
| thousands of other babies born into that
fair western city will grow up with no
| share in the increasing value of its
uO IltlC lllltlCSU III al lUOI VI
| the soil of the earth into which they are
| born.
What the GLOBE proposes to do for
one baby in st. Paul, the >Anti-Poverty
society proposes eventually to do for all
| the babies born in this great republic.
1t cannot guarantee them lot worth
S10,G00 on their arrival at their majority,
because to do that would give them val
ucS that thousands of others must assist
in creating, but it proposes that all the
lots i'll st. Paul, for instance, that in
crease during the next twenty-cne years
from few hundreds of dollars in value
| to $4,000 each, shall yield that value to
| the whole body of its citizens through a
tax on land values. The money thus
obtained will make the city beautiful
and comfortable place of residence. and
keep many of its people busy on works
/ of public utility and benefit.
The GLOBE will do well to broaden its
aims and sympatllies. and try to secure
| justice for all the babies hereafter born
in st. Paul instead of trying to give to
one by lottery the chance to lord it
over others by demanding Of them an
unusual tribute for the privilege of liv-
| ing and working within the city limits.